Latest news with #Baahubali
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Alia Bhatt as Sita and Suriya stars as Lord Rama; Vishnu Manchu reveals dream cast for his Ramayana: ‘The script and dialogues are ready'
In the past few years, Indian mythology has become the new favourite subject of several filmmakers. The Ramayana was recently adapted by director Om Raut into his 2023 project Adipurush. However, his version of the Ramayana didn't resonate with the audience, and emerged as a major flop. Amid the criticism for that movie, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari announced his version of the Ramayana, which is scheduled to release in two parts and is currently under production. Now, actor Vishnu Manchu has revealed that he, too, has a script ready. But, his version of Ramayana focuses on the life of Ravana. In a recent conversation with Nayandeep Rakshit on his YouTube channel, the Kannappa actor was asked whom he'd cast in his version of the story, and he quickly said, 'The only person who immediately appears in my mind for the role of Lord Rama is actor Suriya.' For the role of Sita, he picked Alia Bhatt. He then revealed, 'Funny that you ask, but I already have a script about Ravana. It covers his story from his birth to death. For the same, I approached Suriya in 2009 to play Ram. But, because the budgets were not working out for me, it didn't work out. The director of the film was supposed to be the legendary filmmaker Raghavendra Rao. My father was supposed to play the role of Ravana. I have the script and dialogues ready for it, but I don't know if I will ever be able to make it.' ALSO READ | Shah Rukh Khan injured while filming for King, flown to US for treatment, resting in UK: report He then expressed the desire to play the role of Lord Hanuman. 'But, Raghavendra sir didn't want me to play Hanuman. He wanted me to play Indrajeet. But, I would probably want Suriya's brother Karthi to play Indrajeet.' He added, 'The character of Lakshman is very soft, I would probably cast Jr NTR's older brother Kalyan Ram. For Jatayu, I would cast Sathyaraj sir. The Katappa from Baahubali.' Vishnu Manchu recently pulled off a big budget mythological drama Kannappa, where he played the titular role while actors Akshay Kumar, Prabhas and Mohanlal played Lord Shiva, Rudra and Kirata, respectively. The film, however, had a short run at the box office. It earned just Rs 41.75 crore. Meanwhile, Nitesh Tiwari recently surprised his fans by sharing a glimpse of his version of Ramayana, where actor Ranbir Kapoor is playing the role of Lord Rama. Actress Sai Pallavi is playing Goddess Sita and Yash is playing Ravana. The first part of the film is scheduled to release on Diwali next year. Other films to have taken inspiration from mythology were Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra (2022) and Nag Ashwin's Kalki: 2898 AD (2024). Both films earned well at the box office.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Akshay Kumar provides insurance to over 650 stunt workers after SM Raju's death
The death of stuntman SM Raju on the sets of Pa Ranjith's Vettuvam has shocked the industry. The 52-year-old stuntman died while driving an SUV in a high-octane stunt scene for the film in Nagapattinam on July 13. It has sparked debate around the safety of stuntmen on set. Amid the controversy, actor Akshay Kumar has stepped forward to provide insurance to about 650 stuntmen and stuntwomen in the country. On July 17, reports of the actor providing health and accident coverage for stuntmen surfaced online. The news was confirmed after a veteran stunt professional thanked the Sooryavanshi star for his generosity. Stuntman Vikram Singh Dahiya, who has worked in films like Gunjan Saxena, Antim, OMG 2, and Jigra, told Hindustan Times, 'Thanks to Akshay sir, around 650 to 700 stuntmen and action crew members in Bollywood are now covered under insurance. The policy includes cashless medical treatment up to Rs 5 to Rs 5.5 lakh, whether the injury occurs on or off set.' While his kind gesture is being appreciated, many are questioning the ethics of Hindi film industry. A user shared the Akshay Kumar news on Reddit, prompting many responses. A user wrote, 'While a great gesture from Akshay, why the heck is an illustrious industry as Bollywood not already providing them insurance is the bigger question! ' Other comment read, 'Wonderful gesture. Every person working on the film set should be insured – not just stunt crew.' ALSO READ | Baahubali stunt coordinator Lee Whittaker opens up on death of stuntman on Pa Ranjith's film set: 'If there's not enough funds with production…' Earlier, speaking to SCREEN, American action choreographer Lee Wittaker expressed his disappointment in the lack of safety on film sets. He stated, 'No one should die doing a stunt. Safety precautions have to meet high standards for the safety of the performer and the crew. If there isn't then the stunt should never happen. If there's not enough funds with production, the stunt should never happen.' Whittaker has also worked in several Indian projects like Vishwaroopam, Linga, Kaadu, Baahubali and Thugs of Hindostan, among others. Soon after SM Raj's death, Pa Ranjith took to his X handle and said, 'A day that started out with detailed planning, caution, clarity in execution, prayers and all our goodwill, as it does on every film set that stages crash sequences, ended up in his unexpected death. This has sent us all into shock and heartbreak.' He claimed to have followed every protocol on set to maintain safety. He shared, 'We relied on the expertise of our stunt director Dilip Subbarayan and followed every protocol, every detail that was needed to make this safe. That in spite of all of our preparations and precautions, we ended up losing a man who had unparalleled experience and achievements, who made his family, colleagues and directors proud with the quality of his work that has affected us deeply. He will have our respect, love and adoration always.' In another development, the filmmaker has been booked for SM Raj's death. Along with Pa Ranjith, Neelam Productions executive Rajkamal, stunt artiste Vinoth, and the owner of the car Prabhakar have also been booked for the incident. They are booked under three sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 106(1), Section 289, and Section 125. Just last year, around the same time, another stuntman named Eluumalai died on the sets of Karthi and director PS Mithran's Sardar 2. The incident took place on July 16, 2024. According to India Today, the stuntman fell from a rostrum of 20 feet high while shooting an action sequence for the film. However, it went unnoticed with not much changing over the year.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Kaantha' update: Rana Daggubati says film wouldn't exist without Dulquer Salmaan, praises his unique screen presence
Actor and producer Rana Daggubati , who is known for taking bold steps in Indian cinema through his production, he gained fame with roles like Bhallaladeva in 'Baahubali' and the series 'Rana Naidu', is now focusing more on creating meaningful and impactful films. One such major project is 'Kaantha', a period drama that he is co-producing with actor Dulquer Salmaan . Rana Daggubati on his upcoming film 'Kaantha' In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, speaking about 'Kaantha', Rana Daggubati shared that the moment he heard the story from director Selvamani Selvaraj, he felt that only Dulquer Salmaan could do justice to the lead role and he was so sure about Dulquer's suitability that he said if Dulquer had not agreed to do the film, they probably wouldn't have made it at all. This shows how much faith Rana had in Dulquer's ability. Rana Daggubati praises Dulquer Salmaan Rana also praised Dulquer Salmaan for being a unique and confident actor. According to him, Dulquer doesn't need to follow regular trends or formulas to make an impact. He brings a different kind of energy and presence to the screen, which is exactly what 'Kaantha' needed. Rana explained that Dulquer's style of acting is authentic and doesn't rely on commercial tricks, and that made him the perfect choice. About ' Kothapallilo Okappudu ' Apart from 'Kaantha', Rana also talked about another film which he produced called 'Kothapallilo Okappudu.' He said the film deals with deep human emotions and has a raw and honest storytelling style. Rana added that he was drawn to the film because such simple and emotional stories are becoming rare in today's commercial cinema and he believes in supporting projects that reflect on real life and human values. Rana also reflected on what inspires him to keep going in the film industry. He mentioned that his grandfather had a big influence on him, and his teachings still guide his decisions. Rana believes in facing challenges without fear and staying true to his roots, even while trying out new and bold ideas in filmmaking.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tamannaah Bhatia says she is in the 'figuring-it-out phase' amid breakup rumours with Vijay Varma: 'Decisions and doubts...'
Tamannaah Bhatia opens up about her 'figuring-it-out phase' post amid breakup rumours with Vijay Varma, sharing introspective Instagram posts about self-discovery and duality. While fans speculate about her personal life, the actress remains focused on her work, currently filming the survival thriller Vvan: Force of the Forest with Sidharth Malhotra. Tamannaah Bhatia is embracing uncertainty with grace and grit. As rumours swirl about her breakup with actor Vijay Varma , the actress has offered a rare and introspective glimpse into her current mindset—one she describes as a 'figuring-it-out phase.' Balancing personal upheaval with creative growth, Tamannaah is choosing self-reflection over speculation, using her social media to share the beauty of this in-between chapter. An Honest Glimpse Into Her Current State On Thursday, Tamannaah shared a candid carousel of photos and videos on Instagram, offering a peek into her current day-to-day life—blending work, creativity, and moments of mindfulness. Alongside the post, she wrote, 'This is the figuring-it-out phase. The phase where you're half designer, half detective. Where every detail matters, and every misstep teaches. Where ideas live on sticky notes. It's not perfect (yet). But it's on its way. And honestly, that's the magic. Behind every shiny thing is a not-so-shiny process. Decisions and doubts. This is that part. The nerdy, chaotic, the exciting middle .' Embracing Duality Through Style Earlier this week, Baahubali actress shared another introspective post exploring the idea of duality—in both style and self-expression. In the images, she juxtaposed a glamorous black sequined gown with a casual grey T-shirt, embracing two contrasting aesthetics. 'A black sequined gown and a grey T-shirt may belong to two different worlds — but for me, they feel like they were meant to meet,' she reflected in the caption. She added, 'Because contradiction isn't conflict. It's where masculine edge and feminine instinct find harmony. It's also the art of layering — not just in what I wear, but in who I am… Casual glamour isn't a trend. It's my language. And it's always layered." Breakup Rumours with Vijay Varma On the personal front, Tamannaah has reportedly parted ways with actor Vijay after nearly two years of dating. While neither has publicly confirmed the breakup, sources indicate that differing priorities may have caused the rift—Tamannaah was reportedly ready to take the next step, while Vijay is said to be focusing on his career at the moment. Despite the breakup buzz, the actress is keeping her focus firmly on work. She is currently shooting for Vvan: Force of the Forest, a survival thriller set against the backdrop of Central India's dense jungles. The film also marks her first-ever on-screen collaboration with Sidharth Malhotra.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Prabhas gives a savage reply to Rana Daggubati on ‘Why Kattappa killed Baahubali': ‘I let it happen…'
SS Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Beginning recently marked a decade since its release and is set to return to theatres this October. To celebrate the milestone, the filmmaker joined the film's lead stars, Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, for a special anniversary event. Recently, Rana and Prabhas also delighted fans with a playful exchange on Instagram around the iconic question: 'Why did Katappa kill Baahubali?' It all began when the official X account of Baahubali reignited the iconic debate by posting: 'What if Kattappa didn't kill Baahubali?' On Wednesday, Rana Daggubati shared the post on his Instagram Story, writing, 'I would have killed him!' along with angry and laughing emojis. Prabhas then re-shared Rana's Story, adding a poster featuring himself with '1000 crore' in the background, and captioned it, 'I let it happen, Bhalla, for this!' To that, Rana replied, 'Ahhhaaa Bahuu, well played.' ALSO READ | Ten years later, I still don't care why Kattappa killed Baahubali: Was SS Rajamouli's fantasy drama even that great? Check out their Stories: Released in 2015, Baahubali: The Beginning ended on a gripping cliffhanger, with the loyal Kattappa (played by Sathyaraj) shockingly stabbing Amarendra Baahubali (Prabhas) in the back. The moment left audiences with one burning question: 'Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?' The mystery gave rise to countless memes, fan theories, and debates that kept the buzz alive until Baahubali 2: The Conclusion hit theatres in 2017. While Baahubali: The Beginning grossed around Rs 650 crore worldwide, its sequel became a massive success, earning over Rs 1,700 crore globally. In addition to Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, the films also starred Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj, and Ramya Krishnan in key roles. To mark the 10th anniversary of Baahubali, the makers have announced a special re-release titled Baahubali: The Epic, which will bring both films back to theatres on October 31.
